Maoists grave yard found; but bodies won't be exhumed

A "grave yard" of the CPI (Maoist) has been recently traced in the forests of Khunti district, but their bodies would not be exhumed to ascertain how many of the rebels had died during encounters with security forces, a top Jharkhand police officer said on Sunday.

"It (grave yard) was discovered during a recent gun battle (between the security forces and the Maoists) in Khunti district when a women had been killed in the cross fire, and the subsequent search operation," Director General of Police, GS Rath, told PTI.

"They (Maoists) must have died over a period of time (during encounters), and had been buried there," the DGP said when asked whether the police knew the exact figure of the burial.

He said no when asked whether the police would exhume the bodies to ascertain the figure.

After several encounters the security forces found blood stains, but rarely they recovered bodies as the rebels took dead or injured cadres away during retreat.

Asked whether the Maoists were on the defensive following the successive anti-naxal operations in the state, the DGP said the police presently had the upper hand over the left wing guerrillas.